one hundred and forty nine

I got my favourite jacket back today. The jacket I left in a cab on friday night.  I found delicious cut up prepared raw butternut today. The kind you just pop into the oven, like from home. With the emphasis on peeled and cut up. I bought a juicer and Jem and I made our first ever green juice, the reason I bought the juicer. Spinach leaves, kale, celery, cucumber, apple, ice. Delicious. Even Kate said so. And she refused to try it at first because  something so healthy and full of greens must be yuck. I made roast chicken for dinner with homemade gravy that I caught Jem slurping up like soup. To reward myself for my healthy green juice, I indulged in half a slab of the most delicious organic milk chocolate in the whole entire world, which I have a friend to thank for. I said goodnight to Kate as I do every night but tonight it dissolved into a giggle fest. I am grateful for the little things today. The little indulgences that for a moment made my heart sing. And especially because I noticed.

one hundred and forty eight

 

I am grateful for friends who know how long a long weekend can be. For a day filled with laughs. Many laughs. And for a boyfriend pillow to come home to. Okay, it’s Kate’s, but it is very comforting. A bit odd, and very funny. I just had to have a cuddle.

one hundred and forty six

 

I love caprioscas. I tend to unfortunately overdo the things I love. I felt a tad fragile today as a result. So today I am so grateful for the best toasted panini in the world, roasted vegetables, pesto and haloumi cheese, with gallons of freshly squeezed orange juice. I love the ladies at Alfresco in Doonan, they always remember us, they are always open and welcoming and because they made me feel human again.

one hundred and forty five

 

I am very grateful for my torch. And for Mel for taking us camping so I have this torch. The lowlight in the kids loo has blown. I haven’t replaced it yet. It’s been over a week now. And no, it’s not because B is away, I replace the light bulbs even when he’s home. It’s one of our things. It’s because I bloody keep forgetting to buy a new light bulb. So, I’m grateful for the torch today because I forgot again and because the girls really don’t like a dark loo.

one hundred and forty four

 

I couldn’t get warm today. I was so very grateful for the only warm spot I could find in my home.The winter sun streaming in to my kitchen. Believe it or not, I simply sat in that patch of warmth and had my morning coffee. Bliss.

one hundred and forty three

 

 

I opened my computer midday today to be greeted by this little alert. I am grateful for cheeky little girls who know how much I love them. And who share my sense of humour. And who have their own gmail accounts so I could do exactly as she asked when she asked.

one hundred and forty two

 

I am grateful for tuesday evenings, no I lie, I have become grateful for tuesday evenings. Now I see it as my ‘mindful picking up balls meditation’. (I do try not to count.) There is something about quietly picking up tennis balls with a tube tennis picker upper (obviously) for an hour, that is calming and reflective. I love being the quiet observer. There but not there. Just for an hour. Now if I could only figure a way to make the girls actually enjoy tennis, but I am grateful that they do it for me. They will thank me one day. They will.

one hundred and forty one

When both our beautiful daughters were born I remember being overwhelmed, not only with love (and relief that it was all over), but also with gratitude that they were healthy. And still today, right now, this moment, I am so very grateful that my precious girls are healthy. I do know this is something most of us do take for granted and seldom even realise or even consider how grateful we should be for that reality. Every now and then something makes us stop and think and give thanks. Today it was the link I was given to a youtube clip of a wonderful brave young boy with cerebral palsy. What a beautiful boy and family, who bring joy and empathy and compassion to the fore in so many people. The wonderful image of his courage and tenacity hasn’t left me all day.